Lack of young people in leadership an indictment - Maile

This is according to Gauteng economic development MEC Lebogang Maile who is contesting the position of ANC Gauteng deputy chairman, against Parks Tau and education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

The Gauteng provincial conference is expected to take place next weekend where premier David Makhura will replace Paul Mashatile as chairman of the party in the province.

So far, Maile seems to be enjoying the support of the ANC Youth League in the province; some regions, including Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng, have nominated him.

Maile said: "What we want is a collective that is versatile. It should not be a collective of individuals who are obsessed with themselves and their appearance in public and what they achieve as people. That is what kills the ANC."

He further accused the ANC of not giving young people a chance to lead.

"It is an indictment that we don't have enough young people in the leadership structures of the ANC.

"If you look at the leadership of the ANC's opponents at national level, they are our age group. We are still contesting here in the province when we should be contesting at national level," Maile told Sowetan during an interview in Fourways, Johannesburg.

"We need to infuse vibrancy and energy into the ANC. I am not saying take out old people. [The] ANC belongs to old, young, women, workers and communists."

Maile, 38, was clear that if structures of the ANC direct him to do something, he would never say no.

"Whatever responsibilities we are given, they must be responsibilities that will help us to take the ANC to the next level."

The former ANC Youth League Gauteng chairman warned that the ANC would become "irrelevant" and lose its "revolutionary character" if it was unable to resolve problems facing people.

"E-tolls is a big issue. We can't just talk about it endlessly," Maile said.

He said the upcoming ANC Gauteng provincial conference must resolve to embark on a protracted campaign, where ANC branches and the alliance mobilise society to demand that e-tolls must come to an end.

Maile, who grew up in Alexandra, led the Congress of South African Students as its national president when he was 15.

"I got recruited into politics by my brother [Mike Maile]. Having been there, obviously I interacted with the leadership of the ANC and got to know comrades from different provinces."

Maile said he stands for total liberation - politically and economically - and investing in young people.